We live in a world of technology. Many of us work virtually. Most of us rely on the internet more than we would like to admit. But even in this tech-driven world, it matters where you are meeting your potential clients.

Meeting Potential Clients

This is discussed in the article Why Meeting Potential Clients at a Café or Your Home Office May Not be Such a Good Idea. The researchers found that “customers still value a positive first impression and old-school contact with a business before they engage their services”. They explain that it matters where initial contact takes place. That “cafes and home offices are considered poor alternatives to an office environment”. So, they believe that meeting potential clients in a professional setting will give the best first impression.

Secret Killers of Business Success

A study by The Secret Killers of Business Success looked into what make positive or negative impacts when meeting potential clients. Their study found that “a big part of creating a positive first impression is where you physically meet your potential client”. And even more specifically, “75% said that meeting in a professional business environment has the highest positive impact”. They also found that meeting in a café or a home office both have negative impacts on the business’ first impression. Clients want the business they work with to look professional and have a professional business address.

Importance of a Physical Meeting Space

A successful business woman, Clare Mann, is featured in the article. She works remotely, but finds it important to commute into the city to meet with potential clients. Clare finds “meeting in a professional room was critical as she needed to set the right image for her business”. Mann also explains “the importance of having a city address is absolutely crucial. People like bricks and mortar and it gives your business gravitas”. She is an example of someone working virtually, but still finds importance in meeting potential clients in a professional setting.

One Shot at a First Impression

The Secret Killers of Business Success found “66 % of people are not willing to give a business a second chance if they make a bad impression”. So, making that first impression is crucial when meeting potential clients. Officense is your solution for having a professional meeting space. We offer class A, fully furnished dedicated office space and month to month office space rented as needed. We have hourly conference space and hourly office space. You can avoid using your resources to pay an expensive monthly rent, while still having an impressive office to use when you need it. Give Officense a call at (410) 814-7500 to make a great first impression when meeting potential clients!

The journey towards our current 40-hour work week started in 1866, when the American Labor Union petitioned the federal government to create an eight-hour workday (Lebowitz, 2015).  Until it became a professional norm in 1940, Labor Unions continued to push for institutionalizing the 40-hour work week. Most Americans have been following this set work week schedule for over 75 years, but many professionals still work more than 40 hours (Lebowitz, 2015).

A Performance Based Work Week

What is a healthy and productive balance of work hours in the work week? Evidence suggests that longer hours over a period of time equals lower productivity, but that periodic bursts of longer hours can improve a worker’s performance (Joseph and Yarrow, 2015). An Article published by The Independent, highlighted a Swedish study and a Stanford University study, which both showed data supported the theory that shorter work hours leads to increased productivity and output (Greenfield, 2016). Wouldn’t it be nice to work less, but still meet your goals?

It’s time for American professionals and companies to embrace this trend. Our Office supports the new short work week by offering a flexible office environment. Perhaps you or your employees are more productive between the hours of 2 AM to 5 AM or 10 PM to 1 AM. Normal office settings may not allow you the freedom to work when and for however long you will be productive.

At Officense, break free from the traditional office with our unique After-Hours Access feature to use fully furnished offices and conference rooms with free high-speed Wi-Fi, whenever you want. If your business operates on non-traditional hours or your employees work five-hour days, look to Officense for your business solution.

https://www.officense.com/working-remotely/

With advances in technology, it is now becoming more popular to use a virtual work space. But, what exactly is a virtual work space? The article “What is Your Definition of a Digital Work Space?” searched to find out.

What is a Virtual Work Space?

In the article, they explain that “emerging technologies now make it possible to deliver the infrastructure needed to enable employees to work securely and productively from home, the office, or on the road”. They believe this is because “new technologies are unlocking new possibilities”. But, what is it like to use a virtual office? How efficient is it? To see how virtual-office-users answer our question, they asked the attendees at its EUC Insights 2017 Conference: “What is your definition of a digital work space?”.

Here are a few of their responses:

“A digital work space is the virtual equivalent of a physical workplace that allows users to work from anywhere, potentially increasing productivity and changing how we see optimal work environments”

“My definition of a digital work space is all of the technological means required to allow me to reach people for collaborative work”

“A digital work space provides all the devices and tools needed to get the job done. Basically, it’s a ‘single pane of glass’ to provide me with everything I need such as browser email, voice, etc.”

Basically “it’s clear that the concepts of mobility, flexibility, and productivity are universally understood to be key attributes”. A virtual work space needs to “deliver everything an individual employee needs to be productive”.

The World of the Virtual Office

The article, “What You Need to Know About the Rise of the Digital, Global, Virtual Office”, explains “it’s been predicted that by 2020, more than half of employees will work remotely”. But, they also talk about some of the problems that may arise when companies start to use a virtual work space. Dr. Stagl, a virtual office expert, explains that “one of the first problems that most teams have when members start working remotely is a drop in the quality of communication”. He continues, “The first thing that poor communication will impact is your production- both efficiency and quality drop when teammates fail to communicate details”. This is a problem that I would expect to come from working in a separate space that your coworkers. But since working virtually is flourishing, how is this being remedied?

The best way to prevent the drop in communication is to “find the best collaboration software for your company’s needs”. By “finding a tool that solves multiple communication, collaboration, and documentation challenges will prevent the possibility of compatibility failures”. This is a solution to maintain the level of communication with your co-workers, when using a virtual work space.

Collaboration Tools for Your Company

Finding an amazing collaboration tool to help you and your coworkers communicate can be priceless for your business. At Officense, we give you virtual office solutions to make working remotely work for you. There are virtual office assistants and live receptionists to answer your calls and handle your administrative needs. We give you a professional face, help you communicate with clients, and provide you with the tools to work remotely.

Officense offers many services that can help your virtual business run smoothly. Virtual phone services with virtual office assistants to handle your calls, set appointments and follow up with leads. We also provide a business mailing address and virtual address mail forwarding. We give you the tools and technology to increase productivity and communication, all at an affordable price.

When working remotely, you may find that you’re occasionally missing a professional office or meeting space. Officense also provides instant office space, giving you a professional setting when you need it. So, give Officense a call at (410) 814-7500 to find your virtual office solution, today!

Virtual Offices can be a blessing to business’ like yours! Let me paint you a picture… Ron is the CEO of a Baltimore startup, who wants to keep his overhead low, but simultaneously have a professional address for his new business. Currently, he is using his home address for his business, which can look unreliable to potential new clients. Ron was considering a virtual office solution for his company that would cost XXXXX. He has shopped around to various virtual companies and thus far has been unable to find a high-quality virtual office. But, that was until he found Officense! Our Virtual Office packages starting at only $99.

Officense’s Virtual Offices Packages Compared to the Competition?

With Officense, you have a prestigious downtown virtual address to advertise as the home base or additional location of your company that includes all your company needs, such as virtual mailboxes, assisting clients, and meetings space. When you use our facilities, you can enjoy our complimentary Wi-Fi, professional Executive Assistants, 24-hour access to private offices and conference rooms, as well as other great perks.

At Officense, we can even answer your business calls. Our Executive Assistants will work with you and your employees to create customized instructions to handle your business calls at a discounted rate as a member with Officense. You can be instantly connected to your clients from anywhere! Never miss a call or client with Officense, your Instant Business Office.

For more information, call 410-814-7500 to schedule a tour of your new virtual office.

Finding Your Ideal Office Space

In the article Traditional Workspace or Virtual Office? Three Tips for Founders to Consider, they discuss the 6 fundamental needs people seek to meet through work. The needs we seek are the feeling of achievement, autonomy, belonging, sense of purpose, sense of security, and status. They believe that both traditional office space and virtual offices can fulfill these needs, and that it is about finding the right fit as a startup business founder. Of course, there are financial setbacks when finding startup office space. Most founders cannot afford to spend funds building their own office but want the appearance of a professional office. But renting commercial office space “can come with a hefty monthly price tag”. This is why I think that coworking spaces are ideal for new business owners.

The article also gives tips for founders to consider when starting their business. The first being to “obtain a work mailing address”. They suggest getting a P.O box, but to avoid having it sound like one. This allows you to look professional, even if you do not have a professional office space yet. The second and third tip are to use free virtual conferencing tools and to find conference room options with low rates. Utilizing free or inexpensive space is best when starting your business. But overall, as a new business owner, you should “create your own combination of traditional and non-traditional methods to achieve optimal space conditions”.

Why Coworking Spaces Are Here to Stay

Another article, Why Coworking Spaces Are Here to Stay, explains that “young entrepreneurs are looking to coworking facilities to grab relatively inexpensive office space”. Because of today’s technology, “an office worker can be mobile and an on-the-go entrepreneur would simply be wasting money by paying for a full time office”. The use of non-traditional office space taps into some of the fundamental needs I mentioned. We want autonomy, the freedom to not work in one space for 8 hours a day. But as social beings, we still seek for a sense of belonging and interactions with colleagues. Coworking office space helps bring these two needs together. This is why “young entrepreneurs with new companies that require very little office area are starting out in coworking spaces to save money and meet others to collaborate with”.

Officense: Your Office Solution

At Officense, we can meet all of your coworking needs. We can provide you space to collaborate and be around others, while also giving you the freedom to make your own schedule. Our virtual phone and administrative services appeal to your need for autonomy. Our instant offices and commercial space for rent gives you that traditional work environment when you need it. We also offer you more than just a P.O Box. We give you a prestigious downtown address with virtual mail services including mail sorting, notifications, and forwarding when you need it.

Create your ideal combination of traditional and non-traditional office space

We offer class A, fully furnished dedicated office space and month to month office space rented as needed, without the hefty price tag. There are conference rooms by the hour, at the low rates you need. You can avoid using your resources to pay an expensive monthly rent, while still having impressive office to use when you need it. We offer front desk reception, phone services, a business mailing address and beautiful startup office space overlooking the Inner Harbor in downtown Baltimore. You are able to completely customize the way your run your business.  Create your ideal mix of traditional and non-traditional office space. Give Officense a call at (410) 814-7500 to meet your new staff and tour your new business location, today!